[CALIBRATIONS] Holding hands as the walls come tumbling down...

[farrahfawcetts]

WHO: Steve Harrington
WHERE: Steve's Room
WHAT: Calibrations!
WHEN: 6/10-7/10
WARNINGS: Child abandonment, violence, and drugging


When you awaken, the first thing you notice is that the 'room' you are in is pretty small. Really fucking small. Because it's not a room as you might imagine it, but instead a car. You sit beside Steve as he drives, eyes on the road and expression grim. Outside the road is long and abandoned and dark. No lights except for the distant stars and the distant crack of lightning. He isn't driving toward that. He doesn't seem to be driving toward anything. His hands tighten against the wheel as he looks over and notices you there.

"Where to?"

And just like that the glovebox opens and out comes an old map of Hawkins. There are four circled areas: Starcourt Mall, Nancy's House, Will's House, and Home. He reaches for the radio and turns it up a little. The song is Tears for Fears, Everybody Wants to Rule the World. He hums as he drives along silently, waiting for your call.

Comments

[the_freak]

Oh- Eddie looks around the car with a surprised grin at first, glad to be back on wheels even if he's not behind the steering wheel, and the company's not bad either (though that look on his face it a bit concerning). But the lightening out in the distance draws Eddie's attention.

"Tears for Fears, Stevie?" he teases lightly, flashing him a smirk as he looks over the map. "These the only options? Ooh- If I pick the mall do I get to see you in that little sailor get up?"

[farrahfawcetts]

Steve doesn't entirely seem to realize that it's Eddie beside him at first. It takes a long moment for the look on his face to dissolve away into a gentle smile. It's still a bit absent -A bit robotic- but his posture relaxes in the face of a friend.

"It's a good band. This would have been my Vecna song," he explains with a shrug. At the mention of the mall, his smile grows. "Yeah. Yeah, you will. But no teasing, man. It was required."

[the_freak]

"Good to know," Eddie files that away for later, and despite rolling his eyes his fingers still twitch and jump along with the melody.

"Nah, nah, I would never," he says with a too wide grin, "I'm sure it's adorable. You up for some ice cream?"

[farrahfawcetts]

Steve snorts a laugh and turns the wheel to head off toward the mall. "I am sort of surprised we didn't run into each other there. I feel like half of Hawkins came to see the fallen king. Seems like it would have been right up your alley at the time."

He doesn't drive for long. In fact, he doesn't even seem to be driving toward anything at all since the road looks the same. But eventually, there is a light ahead. There is a bright, bright light that takes up the entire windshield. Blinding as it floods the cabin and whites out everything around it. And, once it starts to fade, they are no longer in the car at all. Eddie is standing in a bathroom.

[the_freak]

"...I might've snuck a peek," he admits, "Once or twice. I didn't wanna gawk or anything." Only he so did.

He squints in that bright light, and blinks in brief confusion as he finds himself inside...the Starcourt bathroom?

[farrahfawcetts]

Steve watches the memory of him and Robin play out. He can remember the feeling of exposure when he told her that he was falling for her. The hope that she felt the same way and then the knowledge that she never would. Not the same way.

And then them both recalibrating for a different kind of relationship. A friendship that was stronger and better than any he'd ever had in his life. His heart had been broken, sure, but it was something he could deal with. Something that would mend with time. Robin was better--so much better-- as his best friend. But still...

Steve smiles, the bathroom not fading as Dustin comes in and scolds them. He smiles watching his past self and Robin laugh and then all the people in the memory just fade away. Steve turns to Eddie in the now empty room and exhales a soft sigh. "Sorry the uniform was ruined by all that blood. Hope that didn't wreck the fantasy for you."

[the_freak]

Jesus, the fuck happened to them? Eddie looks to the other Steve in concern after seeing the state of him, covered in blood, eye practically swollen shut. They're clearly on something, and Eddie watches the exchange- the confession, half wincing at the obvious (to him) outcome.

"You really are bad at clocking people, aren't you Harrington?" he teases softly, and shakes his head, "Yeah, maybe not the look I was picturing. The fuck kind of trouble you guys get into there, mm? You are due for a seriously boring retirement, you know that?"

CW: Torture/Drugging

[farrahfawcetts]

"Yeah, I'm getting that," he says with a snort. When Eddie asks what kind of trouble they got into, the bathroom memory shimmers. The walls melt away into a dark, sterile looking room. Metal on every wall and large lights dangling from the ceiling. There is a set of chairs in the center with restraints hanging off them. On a table are medical tools: a bone saw and pliers. The room is silent then except for the distant sound of echoing alarms.

Steve's smile fades as he looks at the chairs before slowly walking over and sitting in one. He stares out a bit, wounds starting to appear on his face. A memory half blossoming.

"They drugged us to interrogate us. Me and Robin. Roughed us up a bit too. I just wanted to protect her... Luckily they focused on me." He snorts another laugh and shakes his head. "If retirement is in the cards, man... Boring sounds really, really fucking good. But I don't know if that's gonna be ending." He looks back at the pliers and then at Eddie.

"You can see it, if you want..."

[the_freak]

This is some serious shit. Eddie looks around with a frown, which only grows when he sees the tools, going a bit pale and looking to Steve. His brow furrows at the sight of those wounds appearing, and he's not sure he want to see. He eyes the pliers anxiously before reaching out to tap it.

And honest to god Russians are questioning Steve and Robin. Are threatening them. Are using those pliers to- Eddie flinches and looks away. It's tempered somewhat by how high the pair are, and Steve laughing in the face of his would be torturers makes Eddie grin a confused smile.

"Jesus- Henderson now- and little Sinclair?? Is everyone in on this shit except me? Monsters and Russians roaming Hawkins for Christ knows how long-"

[farrahfawcetts]

The memory fades after that. Finally disappearing and bringing them both back to the car. Steve is driving again and the wounds that appeared on him are gone. He bounces his eyebrows at the question and can't help but smile, weary.

"Everyone except for your band friends, probably. Not that we want more of you involved. I would have given anything to spare you this shit. All of us would."

[the_freak]

Eddie snorts, trying to imagine Corroded Coffin taking on Vecna. He frowns then, wondering if they bought that he was the killer. Is that going to be their memory of him? That serial killer they used to know?

"If you guys hadn't found me it probably would have ended a lot worse," he assures. Not that getting eaten alive was FUN, but whatever Carver and his mob would've done when they caught him honestly might've been worse.

"Where to now, Big Boy?"

[farrahfawcetts]

Steve shrugs, even though his mouth curves into a smile at the pet name. "This is your ride. I take you where you want to go."

Still, he looks at the sky with the lightning in the distance. "You probably want to stay away from there," he says honestly. And then, glancing at the map, "You've seen the best memory I have, apparently. The others are different shades of the same story." He shrugs a shoulder and his grip tightens on the wheel. "You could go to Nancy's and see why that is never gonna happen again..."

[the_freak]

"..." Watching the lightning, Eddie's mouth presses into a thin line, curious but...afraid, and he lets his attention be drawn back to the map for now.

"Mm, sure, we can try Wheeler."

[farrahfawcetts]

Steve had been mostly glib suggesting Nancy. Still, he isn't the one in control. He turns the car and drives forward with his jaw set and his shoulders tense.

"Just..." The light is starting to grow like it had before, filling the car. "Just know that...we got past it. Obviously. And that a lot of shit was happening around now. It's...maybe gonna look worse than it is."

But the truth is, even now, it feels really fucking bad. When the light fills the car and clears away, they are in the middle of a party. Loud and full of people with Nancy heading over to get another cup of punch. Steve's face is neutral as he watches the memory of himself chase after, trying to stop her. "I did love her. So much," he says softly. Right as Nancy fights with him and the punch spills

[the_freak]

This...isn't a way he's used to seeing Wheeler. Eddie frowns as Steve tries to stop her, and then-

Locked away in the bathroom, Eddie can see how hurt Steve is as Nancy spits words meant to cut. It doesn't match at all with the idea he's built up in his head based off whatever feelings they clearly still have for each other.

"Shit- Steve..."

[farrahfawcetts]

Steve looks down at the floor. Unlike before, they don't linger here. They're back in the car the moment the door closes behind Steve as he leaves. He grips the wheel tight enough to make the leather creak under his grip.

"So. Yeah. It's not gonna happen. I was telling the truth when I told Robin I didn't love her anymore. I don't. And even if I wanted to be with her again, I don't know how to trust her. Not after that..."

[the_freak]

A hand touches Steve's thigh with a comforting pat, and Eddie looks a bit guilty for his pushing Steve to go after her before.

"No- that's fair, man."

[farrahfawcetts]

Steve glances over at Eddie and offers a small smile before taking his hand. "You look almost worse than seeing me get tortured, man."

[the_freak]

"No- sorry-" Eddie laughs and shrugs a shoulder, "I just...feel like a dick giving that whole big speech or whatever. And...I dunno. You looked so-..." Heartbroken?

[farrahfawcetts]

Steve chuckles a little because what else can he do right now? He grabs Eddie's hand and pulls it up to kiss his knuckles.

"You didn't know. And part of me I think will always love her a little. Just...not the way I would need to in order to be with her again." He exhales. "I want someone who wants me, you know? That I don't have to wonder about. That won't get drunk and call me a murderer and bullshit."

[the_freak]

"I think I can promise I will never do that. I mean...I guess you did murder that demobat. And all the others. But that was hot. And self defense. And totally not even something we need to worry about, obviously, I'm not- we're not-" Eddie rambles a bit awkwardly.

Yup.

"...Seriously, why was it so hot? Does that say something about me?"

[farrahfawcetts]

Steve looks over at Eddie and can't help but smile as he babbles on. Promising to not call him a murderer or anything else. And for all that he claims that he's not... they're not... Steve can't help but feel like he is being comforted and reassured by the next person he's letting close to his heart.

It's nice.

"Eddie..." He pulls the car over, needlessly, just so he can cradle Eddie's face between his hands. "I think the only thing it says about you is that you're good for me. So don't get all up in your head about it."

[the_freak]

It's a romantic gesture, Eddie's cheeks flushing. And so naturally he ruins it by asking (cheeks a bit squished as he does) "...are we going to make out in your car, Harrington?"

[farrahfawcetts]

Steve rolls his eyes and bursts out laughing. Of course Eddie would ask that. "You know this isn't really me, right? It's like... My psyche or something. I don't know. But would it be cheating if I made out with you? Or like...incest? I don't know. It's all really weird."

[the_freak]

"It's you. Your brain is you, dude. Are you seriously going to wake up and be mad that I made out with you and left your lips alone in bed without us?" he teases.